Swedish maritime battery developer Echandia will deliver energy storage systems to be used during (un)loading operations on board eight Spliethoff newbuild cargo vessels. The contract includes an option for two more vessels.
The vessels are being built at Wuhu Shipyard in China, with WE Tech Solutions as the system integrator. The battery systems will be installed to optimise generator efficiency during cargo loading and unloading system operations, a demanding application requiring short, but intense bursts of power.
The vessels will operate primarily on the Finland–USA trade route, transporting paper and other cargo. The first delivery of Echandia battery systems is scheduled for April 2027, with commissioning expected in late 2027 or early 2028.
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Short, intense cycles with a compact footprint
Echandia’s LTO (lithium-titanium-oxide) battery systems are built to handle short, intense cycles without the wear and degradation that other battery types would experience. Where other systems would need to be significantly oversized to handle the same load, increasing both cost and space requirements, Echandia’s solution maintains full performance within a compact footprint.
In addition, the systems have a designed lifespan of up to twenty years, which the company claims exceeds any competing battery system on the market.
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Improving operational efficiency beyond propulsion
Each vessel will be equipped with a battery system dedicated to the cargo loading and unloading system. The battery systems will stabilise engine load, improve fuel efficiency, and reduce mechanical wear. The systems will also reduce the shore-power connection power requirements.
‘This project is a great example of how battery systems can improve operational efficiency in heavy-duty applications beyond propulsion,’ says Torbjörn Bäck, CEO at Echandia. ‘Working with Spliethoff, WE Tech Solutions, and Wuhu Shipyard, we’re providing a smarter and more energy-efficient way to handle cargo operations.’
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About the L-type vessels
The eight multi-purpose vessels will be the largest vessels in the Spliethoff fleet. Deliveries of the vessels are to start in the first quarter of 2028. The L-type vessels have Finnish/Swedish 1A ice-class and measure 203.25 metres in length, 28.25 metres in width, and will have a maximum draught of 10.5 metres. They will have a total capacity of about 33,700 m3 and a deadweight (DWAT) of 28,600 mt.
The energy-efficient vessels are designed with slender hull lines and will be prepared for the use of future fuels. The vessels, with the bridge located at the front, will be equipped with five lifts (side loaders) and three cranes with a capacity of 150 mt each, combinable to 300 mt safe working load (SWL). The deck of these vessels is large and free from obstructions, making it suitable for cargo with large dimensions.
Picture (top): The battery systems will be installed to optimise generator efficiency during cargo loading and unloading system operations. This picture shows the vessels’ side loaders (image by Echandia).
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